Kronospan is to fund five places on the North Wales Business School course, which offers students two days of education and three days of work at a top local firm every week.

The University is now seeking other companies to follow their lead and support the degree.

The undergraduate offering will see them become permanent members of staff receiving full employee benefits, as well as learning fresh skills and leaving after three years with a BA (Hons) qualification.

The course will also appeal to people already in employment who are keen to improve their business acumen or move up the ladder in their current role, with NWBS working side by side with firms to interview candidates and assess them at the end of each semester.

Those selected will work at Kronospan on a six-month rotational basis in different departments to give them a flavour of the business and the manufacturing industry, in fields including finance, marketing, purchasing and quality.

HR Manager Ben Hipkiss said: “We are is delighted to be able to offer a number of post-A level students the opportunity to participate in a paid training programme.

“Three days a week will be spent at our office in Chirk, learning and understanding all aspects of the business whilst the other two days will involve studying for the degree at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

“This is a unique opportunity which we believe will be very popular with students who are seeking a degree but who also want to be able to earn money.”

Programme leader Claire Blanchard believes the union with Kronospan will encourage other industry heavyweights to follow suit and commit to the qualification.

“We are thrilled to have Kronospan on board and look forward to working alongside them over the years to come,” said Claire.

“They’ve seen the vision we had for this degree and want to support it, as well as giving students and their own staff opportunities to progress and develop in their roles.”

She added: “This is an exciting and ground-breaking way to study which we believe will appeal to people from all backgrounds and sectors.

“At Wrexham Glyndwr University we care about our students from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave, and for the rest of their lives as they enter the workforce and follow their chosen career.

“This is the first step in that relationship and gives them an edge on other people looking to enter into the same industries as they are, given that they will already have vital work experience and be earning a wage as well.”

The University launched North Wales Business School a year ago, and it is already going from strength to strength.

Professor Chris Jones, Head of NWBS, said: “The Applied Business degree is one of several new courses we have in place that are designed not only to educate but to ensure our students are job-ready when they eventually graduate.

“We are flexible and meet the needs of our students, we don’t tie them down to long degree courses if that does not suit them or their employer. We can offer education in steps that make life easier for people; we are open to those wanting to take bits of education and become lifelong learners.”